I forgot to say that the form that came with the letter said whoever signed had to have their official stamp thingy - i.e. saying "pharmacy xyz" with their address.

They really need to get up to date. How many businesses actually have stamps these days? I work for a law firm (yes, even if it is outback Australia) and we don't have a stamp.

Besides, if you think about it, will someone who is prepared to claim the pension of a deceased person have even the slightest scruples when it comes to looking up an appropriate signatory, forging their signature and getting a supporting stamp made up, which could only cost a couple of Euros these days? I think not.

_________________A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.

@Old BlokeIf no stamp is required for your private pension why would you even bother getting someone to sign? Look-up the name of a local doctor and sign on their behalf. Who will ever know? The pension administrator is never going to contact the doctor. He's just ticking a box. What's the worst that could happen? You're still alive and entitled to the pension so it's not like you've engaged in fraudulent activity other than a little creative writing, to save time and money.

_________________A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.

@Old BlokeIf no stamp is required for your private pension why would you even bother getting someone to sign? Look-up the name of a local doctor and sign on their behalf. Who will ever know? The pension administrator is never going to contact the doctor. He's just ticking a box. What's the worst that could happen? You're still alive and entitled to the pension so it's not like you've engaged in fraudulent activity other than a little creative writing, to save time and money.

XC has hit summed up the reason why we do it. (Besides if I did as you suggest I'd be the person who got caught. If I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck whatsoever.)I have spoken to every witness who has signed my forms since they started being sent out in 2012, none of them have ever been contacted. This is part of my annoyance with these forms. If they're not checking with witnesses they're a waste of everyone's time.If you're going to do something do it right or don't do it at all.

_________________Tip of the day - change all your passwords to incorrect, that way when you forget what it is your computer will tell you "your password is incorrect".

What you're all forgetting is that it's all about the numbers - statistics and probability. They're looking for dead people, not fraudsters, and IMHO they're more likely to find the former.

If they challenge you with a requirement to sign and have witnessed a life certificate and you respond, you are much less likely to be dead than someone who doesn't respond - especially if they stop paying and you still don't respond.

Whether you're a fraudster or not is not important as nobody (especially in the public sector) wants to admit that they've been defrauded especially by some Antipodean with a John Bull Printing Set and a penchant for forgery. :insert wink here:

What you're all forgetting is that it's all about the numbers - statistics and probability. They're looking for dead people, not fraudsters, and IMHO they're more likely to find the former.

True, but because they are relying solely on the vagaries of the postal system of each Country, they seem to be suspending the pensions of more people who are still living than those who are actually deceased.The DWP say they don't keep a tally of the number of dead pensioners (State pension) this system has identified but there are loads of posts on expat forums throughout the world where living people are reporting losing their pension and the difficulty in getting it re-instated. (Obviously dead pensioners can't use forums).Granted a lot of those who had their suspension suspended hadn't notified DWP that they had changed their address so never received the form. Something expats need to ensure they do if ever they move house.

_________________Tip of the day - change all your passwords to incorrect, that way when you forget what it is your computer will tell you "your password is incorrect".

Did Emmeline Pankhurst shrink from her cause for fear of breaking the law? How about the Manchester Martyrs? Nelson Mandela? Did Ali choose jail time over war as a matter of principle? This is clearly a very emotive issue for you and I would expect therefore that you would be willing to be detained at Her Majesty's pleasure rather than renege on your principles.

At the end of the day, if you believe you have a just cause then do something about it. At the very least, refuse to follow instructions, forge a signature and laugh to yourself when nothing happens. Otherwise it's all so much hot air...the complaining voice in the wilderness. Strike a blow for pensioners everywhere! In years to come there may be a statue in your honour in one of the great squares of Expatia! Imagine yourself in bronze, with a pigeon perched on your head and a Japanese tourist posing for a snapshot in your lap. If that isn't compelling motivation I don't know what is.....

_________________A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.

Did Emmeline Pankhurst shrink from her cause for fear of breaking the law? How about the Manchester Martyrs? Nelson Mandela? Did Ali choose jail time over war as a matter of principle? This is clearly a very emotive issue for you and I would expect therefore that you would be willing to be detained at Her Majesty's pleasure rather than renege on your principles.

At the end of the day, if you believe you have a just cause then do something about it. At the very least, refuse to follow instructions, forge a signature and laugh to yourself when nothing happens. Otherwise it's all so much hot air...the complaining voice in the wilderness. Strike a blow for pensioners everywhere! In years to come there may be a statue in your honour in one of the great squares of Expatia! Imagine yourself in bronze, with a pigeon perched on your head and a Japanese tourist posing for a snapshot in your lap. If that isn't compelling motivation I don't know what is.....

Your right, I'd forgotten the consequences (and stress) of fighting for what's right. As the problems seem to be mainly with the State pension it doesn't actually affect me at the moment.

_________________Tip of the day - change all your passwords to incorrect, that way when you forget what it is your computer will tell you "your password is incorrect".

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